" And being let go, they went to their own company " Acts 4:23.

After the miracle of healing the impotent man at the gate Beautiful, the apostles were the objects first of the admiration of the people, and next of the enmity of the leaders. Declining the first, they gave all the glory of the healing to Him whom it was their delight to confess; nor did they shrink from owning Him before those who had crucified Him, and would willingly have done the same to His disciples. It is indeed refreshing to see this loyalty in the face of danger, nor could the threats of prison or prohibition to speak any more in the name of Jesus hinder them in their work. The threats but bring forth fresh avowals to the very face of the chief priests, and for the present there was nothing to do but threaten again and then let them go.

They are free now to go where they will, and by watching where they go we can see what lies at the bottom of their character. Many a man may pose before the public as a person of rare devotedness, but if he could be seen when "let go" a very different impression would be given. ' These men go to their own company, that of the saints, and there pour out their heart in prayer to the Lord.

It is not our purpose to follow them further; we may safely leave any one at the mercy-seat in the company of the saints. But let us gather up a few of the thoughts suggested by this expression. Where do we go when let go?

There is much in the way of every day employment that is common ground for all men. Unless one is thrown closely with a person in his daily work there may be nothing special in the way he performs it to mark him as a Christian, save a careful, faithful doing what is given him, not with eye-service but as unto God. It is good to remember that the humblest life of toil offers such an opportunity to confess Christ.

In most kinds of work, too, not only the body but the mind has to be engaged, and it is no sign of spirituality to neglect proper attention to the work before us on the plea that we are occupied with the Lord. The mind must be occupied at least to a considerable extent with what is before it. But now the work is over, we are "let go " from the daily task- where do we go? where do our thoughts turn? Do they turn to the proper company of the Lord's people, as naturally as an elastic band returns to its normal condition after being stretched and then loosened? Do we gravitate toward divine things? So that without effort or the urging of conscience we turn to the Lord and His concerns?

Let us apply this very simply to what is a most practical matter, the attendance at the meetings of the Lord's people. You have been detained at work all day, returning weary at evening. You have been "let go" from the burdens of the day. There is a meeting of the saints, but you have been working hard all day and feel the need of bodily and mental rest. How often has there been the temptation to remain quietly at home instead of joining with those who feel a greater need for prayer and the study of the word of God than for bodily rest.

And yet, beloved brethren, we have no doubt as to what is our "own company." Through grace we have been brought to the Lord, and thus to "those that are His own." The sphere of our pleasure as well as of our responsibilities, for there cannot be two, lies within the circle of God's household. All that is needed is to act practically according to this truth. We have, we can have, but one company. Happy are we when we return to that company whenever we are "let go." If saints could tell the starting point of declension from God, it would most frequently be found to be in alienation from the fellowship of the Lord's people.

Why should the meeting for prayer be less fully attended than that for the breaking of bread? Why should the week-meetings be neglected by many who would be shocked at the thought of being kept, for the same reason, from the Lord's-day-meeting ?These are very simple matters, but they test us when we least expect it. Oh, may we gravitate to the company of the saints.

It is at once the reproach of the world and the glory of the gospel that it sets men free; the world says, free to sin, but grace says, free from sin to serve Christ. Is there not some ground for the world's reproach when the flesh is allowed to dictate as to our associations or conduct when released from needed occupations? The word for Lazarus was, "Loose him and let him go." It is the word for every soul set free by grace, and in the joy of that freedom we seek our own company. But the flesh must be judged, if there is to be this spontaneous turning to the Lord and His people. To set one free who has not learned the lesson of "no good in me," is to give loose rein to the fleshly man.

Transferring the words to another thought, how sweet it will be to be "let go " from this world! We are held here, as the hireling fills his appointed task, looking to the hour when the time of service will be over. Individually, the letting-go takes place at death, and in view of that the apostle could say, "Having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better." But what a happy time it will be when we are all set free by the shout of the Lord, who will descend to call His beloved saints to Himself! The earth will no longer hold us, the world will have no attraction even for those who have walked too close to it while their hearts have truly been Christ's. We will be "let go," and with delight will return to our "own company," the presence of the Lord and the goodly fellowship of all that are His.

"Lord haste that day of cloudless ray."